Induction Frame for a Dartboard

ABSTRACT

An induction frame for a dartboard is positioned on the front surface of the dartboard according to predetermined shape and number so as to define a plurality of scoring areas thereon. The induction frame is inductive and has conductive ends that are used to penetrate the dartboard. On the front side of the respective frames is formed guiding surface that is located in the direction in which the dart is tossed. The abovementioned design enables the respective frames to be directly connected to the electronic scoring unit for scoring, thus effectively simplifying the structure, reducing the complexity and cost of the circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an induction frame for a dartboard, and more particularly to a conductive induction frame for a dartboard, on the surface of the dartboard is defined a plurality of scoring areas, and the induction frame can be electrically connected to an electronic scoring unit directly to record the score.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dart game is one of the major sports and recreation activities, therefore, the demand for improving the technology of dart products grows increasingly. To cope with the demand for innovation and change, various target products also need to be improved in terms of accuracy, convenience and quality. And induction-scoring has long become an important selling point that the dartboard manufactures are competing for, and such a scoring function has already been used in international dart competitions. Therefore, finding an electronic dartboard scoring equipment to better meet the users' requirement has become an important issue for the manufacturers.

The electronic scoring dartboards currently on the market are generally classified into tactile type and magnetic induction type.

The tactile type product employs a porous board to trigger an electronic tactile circuit board, and the electronic tactile circuit board will create a score and display it. This conventional structure has the following disadvantages:

First, since the porous board is a movable structure, it will move and press the circuit board as long as a dart impacts the porous board, thus wrongly sending out a signal to start scoring. Therefore, no matter the tip of the dart is inserted into the hole of the porous board or not, the porous board will move and create a wrong score, as along as an impact occurs. And even if the tip of the dart rebound after hitting the porous board, the porous board will still move and trigger the circuit board, and start scoring.

Second, if the force when the tip of the dart is inserted into the hole of the porous board is too small to move the porous board and to make the electronic circuit to create a score, or the throwing force of the tip of the dart is so great that the porous board can't return to its original position, thus repeatedly triggering the scoring function. The abovementioned conditions will cause misjudgment and wrong score. Therefore, the electronic tactile type dartboard cannot be used in formal competition.

In recent years, magnetic induction type electronic dartboard has been improved in many aspects, however, most of the magnetic induction type electronic dartboards are provided with permanent magnetic dart or electrical induction dart. Both of the abovementioned two dartboards should be provided with induction coils around the respective scoring areas, and the induction coils in the scoring area to which the magnetic dart is thrown serve to output the induction signals to create a score. An induction scoring block for an electronic dartboard of TW Pat. No. 00422340 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein induction coils 11 are wound around the scoring block 10, the induction coils 11 each has an extending end 110 connected to an electronic board, the induction coils 11 around the periphery of the scoring block 10 can provide a scoring function for recording the score automatically. This conventional product has the following disadvantages:

First, the operation of winding many induction coils 11 and the assembly of extending end 110 are complicated and will increase the operation cost. For easy connection of the extending end 110, it requires more complex structure and technique to cooperate with the induction coils. If no appropriate measures are made to protect the scoring block 10, the dart will damage the induction coils 11 or the extending end 110, thus causing wrong scoring and failure.

Second, the scoring block 10 should be wound with many turns of induction coils 11, this will waste the induction coils 11 and increase the cost.

Third, after induction coils 11 wind around the scoring block 10, the scoring block 10, the frame of the dartboard and other components should still be assembled to the dartboard, respectively, and this assembly operation will further increase the assembly time. Therefore, the assembly of this conventional structure is complicated, and the number of the components thereof is great.

Fourth, the scoring block 10 can easily be penetrated by a metal dart, and the speedy dart is likely to damage the induction coils 11 around the scoring block, or even worse, it is likely to cause failure of the induction coils 11.

To solve the abovementioned problems, relative improvement has been made by the applicant of the present application, as shown in FIG. 2 (TW Pat. No. 00373723), in the surface of the dartboard 12 is inserted a frame 13, and a plurality of induction coils 15 is disposed in a space 14 defined in the bottom of the frame 13. The abovementioned structure enables the dartboard to have a magnetic induction function and improves the induction effect. This conventional product decreases cost of the coil winding and prevents the dart from damaging the induction coils, however, it still has the following disadvantages:

First, the induction coils 15 must be protected by plastic frame 13, and the plastic frame 13 is still liable to be damaged by the metal dart after a long period time of use. The speedy dart will penetrate the space 14, causing the failure of the induction coils 15. Further, no score will be created if the dart is thrown onto the plastic frame 13, and the damaged plastic frame 13 is ugly.

Second, many turns of induction coils 15 are disposed in the space 14 in the bottom of the frame 13, when assembling the frame 13 to the dartboard 12, the induction coils 15 are likely to fall off or to be clamped by other structures (assembly is not easy), and both ends of the respective coils 15 must be connected to the circuit behind the dartboard 12. However, due to such methods of connecting, the dartboard will be covered with complicated circuits (for example, the induction coil 15 in the topmost scoring area must wind through the entire surface of the dartboard, otherwise, both ends of the induction coils 15 cannot protrude out. In addition, each space 14 must be provided with many turns of induction coils 15, this will waste the induction coils and will increase the cost.

Third, the induction coils 15 must be protected by the plastic frame 13, and the injection molding cost of the plastic frame 13 is pretty high. Further, to enable the frame 13 to be engaged in the surface of the dartboard 12, the dartboard 12 must be subjected to a complicated grooving process, and thus the relative cost will be increased.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an induction frame for a dartboard that can be used as a frame of the scoring area while having the induction function.

To obtain the above objective, the induction frame of the present invention should be conductive, on the surface of the dartboard is defined a plurality of scoring areas, and the respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames have conductive ends that are used to penetrate the dartboard. The abovementioned design enables the respective frames to be directly connected to the electronic scoring unit for scoring. Therefore, the present invention not only can separate the scoring areas but also can execute the scoring operation. Further, the design of the shared conductive end shared by a plurality of scoring areas and induction frames effectively simplifies the structure, and reduces the complexity and cost of the circuit.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a durable induction frame for a dartboard. Each of the arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames is a unitary structure made of conductive hard material. On the front side of the respective frames is formed a guiding surface that is located in the direction in which the dart is tossed. The abovementioned design can prevent the tip of the dart from being stopped by the arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames. Therefore, the structure of the present invention is durable.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an easily assembled induction frame for a dartboard.

Each of the conductive ends of the respective induction frames has a sharp front terminal portion to be engaged in the dartboard, and the respective induction frame are formed at the lower edge thereof with a blade-shaped engaging portion. By such arrangements, the arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frame can be engaged in the wood, plastic or sisal made dartboard quickly and easily. Therefore, the assembly time and cost can be reduced.

It is to be noted that the induction frame refers to the dividing frame located between the scoring areas, which is not afraid of being hit by the dart and is able to guide the dart, and is not the general embedded coil.

the conductive hard material can be iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cast iron, zinc, silver, tungsten, nickel, or the alloy of these metals, or can be conductive hard plastic material. The induction frames are positioned on the front surface of the dartboard according to predetermined shape and number. In addition, the induction frames can be arc-shaped, fan-shaped, circular, square, triangle-shaped, or can intersect with one another.

It is still to be noted that the induction frame and the electronic scoring unit can be connected to each other and mounted on the dartboard. The electronic scoring unit can also be separated from the dartboard but they are connected by signal, and the signal connection mode between the induction frame and the electronic scoring unit is not limited to wire or wireless technology.

In addition to being a conductive unitary structure, the induction frame can be inserted or coated with easily produced or low cost accessories that are located in the direction of the dartboard, and the induction frame still can be used to guide the dart and to record the score only maintaining the conductive hard material of the induction frame in the direction in which the dart is tossed. The aforementioned embodiments can be made, for example, by stuffing plastic accessories into the hollow induction frame integrally formed by copper, or by wrapping the plastic accessories with silver induction frame. The aforementioned accessories can also be made of low cost material, such as plastic, or wood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a conventional frame of a dartboard;

FIG. 2 is another illustrative view of a conventional frame of a dartboard;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of an induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electronic scoring unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an assembly cross sectional view of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an assembly view of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of an electronic scoring unit in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a part of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross section view of a part of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a part of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustrative view of an induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is an illustrative view of a part of the induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be more clear from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3-7, an induction frame for a dartboard in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and comprises: a dartboard 20, an induction frame 30, a backboard W, and an electronic scoring unit 40, which are to be used with a magnetic dart to create a scoring function during a dart game.

The dartboard 20 is made of wood, plastic, or sisal.

The induction frame 30 is positioned on the front surface of the dartboard 20 to divide the dartboard 20 into a plurality of scoring areas. The induction frame 30 includes two types of frames: arc-shaped frames 31 and fan-shaped frames 32 that intersect one another. Each of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 is a unitary structure made of electrical induction metal material. An isolating member 33 is arranged at each of the intersections of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32, and the isolating member 33 can be an isolating piece, an anodized layer, a plating layer, a layer of isolating coating or an isolating block. At both ends of the respective intersections of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 are provided conductive ends 311, 321. Each of the conductive ends 311 and 321 has a sharp front terminal portion A that is used to penetrate the dartboard 20. On the front side of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 is formed a pair of bevel guiding surfaces 312, 322 located in the direction in which the dart is tossed. The bevel guiding surfaces 312 and 322 are located opposite in pairs to form a reverse V-shaped structure. One end of the respective fan-shaped frames 32 is connected to the arc-shaped frames 31, and a conductive end 311 penetrates the dartboard 20. The design of the shared conductive end allows the fan-shaped frames 32 to be connected to each other, so that the neighboring scoring areas can share a common fan-shaped frame 32.

The electronic scoring unit 40 is mounted on the rear of the dartboard by the backboard W and is located correspondingly to the induction frame 30. The electronic scoring unit 40 has connecting members 41 that are to be engaged with the sharp front terminal portion A of the conductive ends 311, 321 of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 after the sharp front terminal portion A penetrates the backboard W (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). In this way, the electronic scoring unit 40 is electrically connected to the induction frame 30. The electronic scoring unit 40 includes an electronic logic assembly 42, a recognition unit 43, a calculation unit 44, and a display unit 45. The electronic logic assembly 42 serves to connect the conductive ends 311 and 321 to the recognition unit 43 and the calculation unit 44, and the display unit 45 serves to display the scoring result.

In addition, the conductive ends 311 and 321 of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 can be fixed by the cooperation of threads and the connecting members 41 (such as screws, and nuts), and achieve electric connection (the electronic scoring unit and the connection method are of conventional type, further explanations are omitted).

For a better understanding of the present invention, its operation and function, reference should be made to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 again.

After the conductive ends 311, 321 of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 penetrate the dartboard 20, the electronic scoring unit 40 is electrically connected to the induction frame 30 (the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and fan-shaped frames 32), therefore, the induction frame 30 can sense the magnetic lines of force, and can also produce magnetic lines of force to sense the magnetic induction dart. The induction frame 30 is a unitary structure made of conductive hard material, and at each of the intersections of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 is arranged an isolating member 33, therefore, the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 can produce magnetic lines of force to sense the magnetic dart and then can send signals to the electronic scoring unit 40 for analysis. The isolating member 33 at the intersection of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 prevents the interference of the signal circuits of the arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32. Therefore, the induction board 30 defines different magnetic induction scoring areas and can record a score by sensing the magnetic force of the magnetic dart.

In addition, the electronic scoring unit 40 utilizes the electronic logic assembly 42, the recognition unit 43, and conductive ends 311 to reduce the number of the conductive ends 321 of the fan-shaped frames 32, and thus the structure is simplified, and the complexity and the cost of the circuit are reduced.

It is important that, without having to make additional frame to cooperate with the coils, the simple design of the present invention enables the respective frames to be directly connected to the electronic scoring unit for scoring, thus effectively simplifying the structure, reducing the complexity and cost of the circuit.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the product of the present invention is assembled through the steps as follows:

1. assembling the induction frame 30 to the dartboard 20: the induction frame 30 is positioned at the front side of the dartboard 20, and the sharp front terminal portion A of the two types of induction frames 30 (the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and fan-shaped frames 32) penetrates the dartboard 20, so that the induction frame 30 and the dartboard 20 can be assembled quickly and easily. So far, the induction frame 30 of the present invention doesn't require any coil winding operation, the simple assembly technique is considerably simplified as compared with the conventional assembly process, and can save a lot of assembly time.

2. assembling the electronic scoring unit 40 to the induction frame 30: the electronic scoring unit 40 is mounted on the rear of the dartboard by the backboard W and is located correspondingly to the induction frame 30 in such a manner that the conductive ends 311, 321 of the induction frame 30 are engaged in the connecting members 41 of the electronic scoring unit 40, so that the electronic scoring unit 40 is electrically connected to the induction frame 30, and the induction frame 30 defines different magnetic induction scoring areas.

It is understood from the above description that the assembly technique of the present invention simplifies the assembly of the dartboard 20, the induction frame 30 and the electronic scoring unit 40.

On the other hand, on the front side of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 is formed a pair of bevel guiding surfaces 312, 322 located in the direction in which the dart is tossed, therefore, the induction frame 30 can replace the conventional metal frame, and the bevel guiding surfaces 312, 322 can guide the tip of the dartboard into the right scoring area automatically, so that the dart can land on the dartboard easily without being stopped by the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32, and without affecting the score operation. And the conductive frame can also produce the same function and effect if it is made of hard plastic material, therefore, the present invention can be used as a frame of the scoring area while having the induction function, further, the structure is more durable than the conventional structure.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, in addition to the sharp terminal portion A formed at both conductive ends 311, 321 of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32, the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 are formed at the lower edge thereof with a blade-shaped engaging portion B. The arc-shaped frames 31 intersect the fan-shaped frames 32, and at each of the intersections of the respective arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 is arranged a reverse U-shaped isolating member 33 (or an isolating member with an upper engaging groove and a lower engaging groove). The blade-shaped engaging portion B and the sharp front terminal portion A are engaged in the dartboard 20, such a design not only reduces the assembly time but also reduces the assembly cost.

In addition, the electronic logic assembly 42 of the embodiment connects the conductive ends 311 and 321 to one another, respectively, and then connects the respective conductive ends 311, 321 to the recognition unit 43 and the calculation unit 44. And finally, the scoring result is displayed on the display unit 45. This is another feasible connection mode of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the guiding surfaces 312, 322 can be an arc-shaped surface, or a single bevel surface. The arc-shaped guiding surface, the reverse V-shaped guiding surfaces, and the single bevel surface all can guide the dart to land on the dartboard.

The arc-shaped frames 31 and the fan-shaped frames 32 of the second and third embodiments of the present invention can be arranged at a certain interval, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, so that there is no circuit between arc-shaped frames 31 or fan-shaped frame 32, but they are connected by nonconductive connecting members Y to form an effective integral frame assembly with a smooth surface. The scoring area at which the dart lands can be determined automatically by the reverse magnetic lines of force cutting sensed by the electronic scoring unit (not shown). Therefore, each of the signals falling into the arc-shaped frames 31 or the fan-shaped frames 32 is a positive signal, and the signal falling into the region between the arc-shaped frames 31 or the fan-shaped frames 32 is a negative signal. The arrangement of the second and third embodiments can save materials, and under this condition, the electronic scoring unit (not shown) still can execute the scoring operation by using the comparison analysis of the positive and negative signals.

To summarize, the induction frames of the dartboard of the present invention are positioned on the front surface of the dartboard, according to predetermined number and shape, to separate the scoring areas from one another, and the respective induction frames are made of conductive hard material. The respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames have conductive ends that are used to penetrate the dartboard. On the front side of the respective frames is formed guiding surface that is located in the direction in which the dart is tossed. The abovementioned design enables the respective frames to be directly connected to the electronic scoring unit for scoring, thus effectively simplifying the structure, reducing the complexity and cost of the circuit.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. An induction frame for a dartboard being mounted on a surface of a dartboard, the induction frame is conductive, wherein a plurality of induction frames is electrically connected to an electronic scoring unit, respectively, forming at least one magnetic induction circuit, the induction frame is formed with conductive ends, and the plurality of induction frames are connected to one another.
 2. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction frames are positioned on a front surface of the dartboard according to predetermined shape and number.
 3. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction frames are arc-shaped, fan-shaped, circular, square, triangle-shaped, or intersect with one another.
 4. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction frame includes two types of frames: arc-shaped frames and fan-shaped frames, the arc-shaped frames and fan-shaped frames intersect one another.
 5. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein an isolating member is arranged at each intersection of the arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames.
 6. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein each conductive end of the respective frames has a sharp front terminal portion that is used to penetrate the dartboard.
 7. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electronic scoring unit has connecting members that are to be engaged with the conductive ends of the respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames, the electronic scoring unit is electrically connected to the conductive ends of the induction frame by the connecting members.
 8. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the induction frames is formed with a bevel guiding surface that is located in the direction in which the dart is tossed.
 9. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bevel guiding surface is an arc-shaped surface, a reverse V-shaped structure having two bevel surfaces, or a single bevel surface.
 10. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the isolating member is an isolating piece, an anodized layer, a plating layer, a layer of isolating coating or an isolating block.
 11. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dartboard is made of wood, plastic, or sisal.
 12. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective induction frames are formed at a lower edge thereof with a blade-shaped engaging portion, the blade-shaped engaging portion and the sharp front terminal portion are engaged in the dartboard.
 13. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein a reverse U-shaped isolating member is arranged at each intersection of the arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames.
 14. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein an isolating member with an upper engaging groove and a lower engaging groove is arranged at each intersection of the respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames, and the upper engaging groove and the lower engaging groove of the isolating member are used for mating with the respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames.
 15. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction frame is made of conductive material, such as iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cast iron, zinc, silver, tungsten, nickel, or an alloy of these metals.
 16. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction frame is made of conductive hard material, such as conductive hard plastic material.
 17. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conductive ends of the respective arc-shaped frames and the fan-shaped frames are formed with threads to be engaged with threads of the connecting members of the electronic scoring unit, so as to achieve electric connection.
 18. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein accessories made of other materials are inserted in or coated on the induction frame.
 19. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the induction frames is formed with a bevel guiding surface that is located in the direction in which the dart is tossed.
 20. The induction frame for a dartboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein the respective induction frames are formed at a lower edge thereof with a blade-shaped engaging portion, the blade-shaped engaging portion and the sharp front terminal portion are engaged in the dartboard. 